“It's a scholarship, it goes in parallel with the school”

Saved from direct relegation to League 3, CS Dinamo allowed themselves to experiment this weekend, in the “home” duel with ASA Târgu Mureș, the last of the play-out.

“Dogs” directed by Boris Keca and Ionel Danciulescu ticked off, on Saturday, two moments of great emotional charge for the protagonists. First, they gave a few minutes to the teenager Alexandru Anghel, who became, at 14 years, 11 months and 20 days, the youngest debutant goalkeeper in the first two leagues.

That's not all, because Ianis Neagu Gafencu, the son of Liliana Gafencu, one of Romania's giant rowers, also appeared on the field from the same minute. At the age of 18, which he turned in January, the kid schooled in Ștefan cel Mare road evolves as a striker and has an enviable waist: he already measures 1.90 m., being nicknamed “Samurai” because of his look.

Liliana Gafencu is a three-time Olympic rowing champion in the 8+1 queen event. She climbed to the top step of the podium in three consecutive editions, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. She also holds other prestigious records at the World Championships: she captured titles in the editions of '97, '98 and '99

Beyond her impressive career, Liliana Gafencu was also president of Dinamo Sports Club, a position she held between September 2017 and February 2018.

prosport.ro also wrote about the subject.

Liliana Gafencu's confession for GSP: “He went in parallel with football and school. He has a scholarship”

Liliana Gafencu spoke to us this morning about her boy's debut, offering for the first time details about the career of the kid who idolizes Marius Niculae and admires Erling Haaland.

There was no place for “fireworks” after the first few minutes at CS Dinamo. Her son had to go to meditation after the match, in the context where Baccalaureate is the next “opponent”.

“It's a new chapter in his life, of course I had emotions. My husband's words, “you took him to football at five years and nine months and you are also going to his debut”. I happened to go… Besides, mostly my husband is with him, he comes to training. I am also with the service. But now he was away with the girl, in Brăilă, where we have our daughter, in Danube Brăila.

I didn't even know (not that the debut follows). It was a surprise. I am very happy for him, for the people who had the confidence to do this.

He has to keep working, he really wants to. Ianis is a very good child, I supported him and continue to support him, considering that he went in parallel with both sports and school. He's on scholarship.

This is what he wants… And I told him: “Mom, if you want it, work hard and have ambition, you can't fail!”. The people around him, those who formed him, also contributed a lot. We want it to only go up from here. I told him to choose, especially since we are also with the Baccalaureate, we are in the last year…

But don't give up at all! I told her: “Mummy, stay still, stop training, you must also be present at the meditations”.

Yesterday, for example (no saturday), I got home at 14:00 and at 14:30 he meditated for two hours. Right after the match. I told the lady that she was a little late. He's a responsible child and he deserves good things to happen to him,” the former great rower of Romania told us, visibly moved.

Liliana Gafencu wrote history for Romanian sport

My mother told me that sport means a lot of work and sacrifice. “Be dedicated. Either you are good at football and work hard, or you study very well and do what you like in life», said my mother.

My idol is Marius Niculae, I like watching his goals on YouTube, learning something new every day. He even gave me some advice before leaving for Cittadella, I hope he's proud of me! In European football, I like Haaland, the way he rejoices after every goal. He has a relaxation ritual, like a samurai.

– Iustin Neagu Gafencu, for the CS Dinamo page